Four charged in Toronto armoured truck heist

TORONTO - Four men are facing numerous charges in connection with an armoured car robbery in a Toronto mall parking lot in January.

Toronto police say the four men were among eleven people arrested during police raids Thursday across the Greater Toronto Area.

The four face a total of 52 charges including armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery and various weapons-related charges.

The other seven arrests were said to be related to a May 23 street robbery and to criminal and narcotics offences that are unrelated to the armoured car robbery at Fairview Mall on Jan. 20.

It's alleged that two men wearing balaclavas held up two security guards at gunpoint while they were making a delivery, and that shots were exchanged between one of the guards and one of the armed men.

Police say a quantity of cash was taken before both of the armed robbers fled in a silver vehicle but no one was hurt in the shootout and the vehicle was located a short distance away.

Last month, investigators with the hold-up squad released video of the robbery and the shootout and also released details on a silver Dodge Caravan they say was purchased just days before the robbery.

A $10,000 reward was also put up by the armoured truck company.

Police say they are still trying to locate a woman they believe purchased the vehicle used in the robbery for $800 through an ad on Kijiji.

The four men charged are Zunaed Kabir, 24, Ram Singh Bisht, 24, Jeremy Metyas, 21, and William Rebeiz, 22, all of Toronto.

Police say drugs including marijuana, cocaine, hashish were seized in Thursday's raids, along with cash, a .45-calibre handgun and three replica handguns.